Key Peninsula Fire District to seek lid lift levy in August

Maintenance, apparatus cost continues to rise

Susan Schell

of the Gateway

In a special board meeting earlier this month, the Key Peninsula Fire Protection District No. 16 Board of Commissioners approved a resolution to place a lid lift levy on the Aug. 18 primary ballot. If successful, the levy would increase taxpayers’ rate from 87 cents to $1.09 per $1,000 of assessed property valuation.

Christina Bosch, administrative manager for the fire district, said the department was authorized to request up to $1.50 but commissioners said $1.09 would be “a little bit more affordable for our taxpayers.”

“Salary and wages continue to increase because they’re negotiated,” she said. “And the facility and maintenance costs also go up.”

The department also hopes to create a savings account for future apparatus costs.

“This is so we don’t have to go back to the voters again to request a separate levy,” Bosch said. “At this time, these monies does not include new personnel. We’re not quite there yet.”

The district’s past two lid lift levy attempts have failed.

Reach Lifestyles Coordinator and reporter Susan Schell at 253-853-9240 or by e-mail at susan.schell@gateline.com.